Miss Mayfly® Wader Guide: Style, Performance & Safety

With so many varying types of waders, knowing which type to purchase can sometimes become an overwhelming decision- particularly for a new angler. This guide will help you identify which wader style best suits your needs by highlighting the most common wader styles, foot and fabric types and explaining the performance ability, safety considerations and common features of each.  

Waders are commonly worn by anglers to allow them to stay dry while getting in the water where the fish are. Although primarily used for fishing, waders may also be worn for many different activities including ATV riding, nature photography, outdoor biology work, hiking through wilderness and streams, kayaking & boating, snow mobile riding or other activities which may require gear that keeps you dry. 

Wader Styles

Chest Waders- Full Coverage

DESCRIPTION

A full-coverage chest wader is the most commonly wader worn of all the wader styles. This style of wader is waterproof up to the chest and features a suspender system created to hold up the wader body.  The suspender system should also include quick release buckles that can be easily released in the case of an urgent situation.

 

PERFORMANCE & SAFETY

• WADING DEPTH: A chest wader is worn when wading in water depths up to the chest. However, that does not mean that a person 'should' wade in depths up to their chest, in fact, it is good practice to limit submersion depth to the bottom of the chest wader pocket. Users should be aware that safety experts warn that wading above the hip can be dangerous. The deeper you wade, the more buoyant you become and the higher your safety risk becomes.

• WADING BELT: When wearing a chest wader, a wading belt is always worn for safety in the event of a fall and helps keep water from filling up in the legs of the wader. However, if submerged over the top edge, the upper torso will fill with water. The tighter the belt is worn, the more it can help prevent water from entering into the lower body. Belts are not foolproof and some water may escape past the belt. Water can also absorb through clothing and transfer to the lower body.

• AIR IN WADERS: Having air in waders that have neoprene booties is not dangerous in and of itself. In fact, trapped air can actually help you float in the event of a fall. Wading boots that are worn with neoprene footed waders, compress the bootie, which forces any trapped air located in the foot, out and upwards. When you submerge the wader, the water weight will compress the wader forcing the extra air upwards above the water submersion level. Although not dangerous, If you do not like having air in your waders, simply squat in them prior to securing the belt. 

• WATER SUBMERSION: When submerged, the water inside of a wader is equal to the weight of the water outside of a wader. The greatest danger is when the user is trying to get up and/or out of the water. The weight of the water that is inside of the wader will be very heavy when exiting the body of water, sometimes forcing the user to need to crawl or pull themselves onto shore. The water weight also makes it hard to pull oneself back up and into a boat, kayak or float. In these situations, unbuckling the suspenders and pulling down the upper body will reduce the upper body water weight. In extreme situations the user might need to take the wader off completely to get out of the water, being careful not to get the wader tangled around the legs.

• CURRENT FLOW: Sometimes women's hips are wider than their busts, causing women to wear a wader size that has an excess width of fabric around the bust. This excess loose-fitting fabric could "catch a flow of current", creating in a force of resistance against the body, much like an umbrella in the wind. This occurrence could potentially make it hard for the user to recover their footing, and could even force them down into the water and take them along in the current. For this reason it is important to have a bust cinching feature in the top edge of a chest wader to help reduce the odds of this happening.
• Miss Mayfly's Chest wader has a drawstring cinching system to help adjust the width at the top edge.

 

COMMON FEATURES

Chest waders features may be simplistic with just a few basics, or more technically advanced including items such as:

• Boot guards that prevent rocks and debris from entering waders that require separate boots.

• Waist high conversion that allows the chest wader to be converted to a waist wader by folding down the upper body.

• Chest pocket features such as a handwarmer and zippered pockets.

• Some chest waders have options for comfort or non-slip suspender systems.

MISS MAYFLY FEATURES

• Chameleon Color Technology
• Durable Flex-ProForm Fabric
• Superior Breathability
• Smooth Comfort Membrane
• ReelFit Extended Size System
• 4mm Self-adjusting Neoprene Booties
• Convertible Chest to Waist, Non-slip Suspender System 
• Double-sided Fleece Lined Hand Warmer 
• One Hidden Inside Zippered Pocket 
• One Outer Waterproof Zippered Pocket, With Key Clip 
• Elastic Safety Belt  
• Adjustable Bust Drawstring 
• Gravel Guards 
• Lower Leg Vented Double Layer

Wading Pants- Half Coverage

DESCRIPTION

Wading pants are a great option for those who want ease of use, combined with full lower body coverage. Pants are waterproof to the waist and utilize a belt or belt system around the waist to help prevent water from entering in the waders. 

PERFORMANCE & SAFETY

• WATER DEPTH: Wading pants are appropriate to use when wading waters below the hip- the greatest depth recommended for safety. They may be worn to cross through waters that reach the height of your waist, but are not recommended for regular use at those depths. When the water does not require wading above the hip- the pant is a great choice.  Users should be aware that safety experts warn that wading above the hip can be dangerous. The deeper you wade, the more buoyant you become and the higher your safety risk becomes.

• PERFORMANCE: Wading pants have many performance benefits including faster and easier gearing-up and a greater ease in movement because there is no upper body fabric to pull from when bending, making wading pants an extremely comfortable and high preforming option. 

• EASY ACCESS: The greatest benefit is a wading pant is easier use when 'nature calls', enabling the user to relieve oneself without first having to remove tackle bags and outer-layers from the upper body.

• ALL-SEASON: Wading pants aren't just for summer use. They are unlimited in upper-body laying options, removing the need to stuff winter layers into the upper body of a chest wader. With appropriate base layers, a wading pant can be worn all-seasons. 

• FIT SOLUTION: Wading pants are also an excellent solution for women and men with larger chest girths combined with a small hip circumference, allowing them to size to fit their smaller lower body. For the same reason, pants are also great when the hip is much larger than the chest.

• AIR IN WADERS: Having air in waders that have neoprene booties is not dangerous in and of itself. In fact, trapped air can actually help you float in the event of a fall. Wading boots that are worn with neoprene footed waders, compress the bootie, which forces any trapped air located in the foot, out and upwards. When you submerge the wader, the water weight will compress the wader forcing the extra air upwards above the water submersion level. Although not dangerous, If you do not like having air in your waders, simply squat in them prior to securing the belt. 

•   WATER SUBMERSION: When submerged, the water inside of a wader is equal to the weight of the water outside of a wader. The greatest danger is when the user is trying to get up and/or out of the water. The weight of the water that is inside of the wader will be very heavy when exiting the body of water, sometimes forcing the user to need to crawl or pull themselves onto shore. The water weight also makes it hard to pull oneself back up and into a boat, kayak or float. In extreme situations the user might need to take the wader off completely to get out of the water, being careful not to get the wader tangled around the legs. A secure waist system will help prevent water from entering the wader in the event of submersion.
• Miss Mayfly's pant wader has a secure padded waist system and is even more effective at resisting water than the standard wading belt. The amount of water that could enter the pant wader is limited to the waist, compared to a chest wader that could fill to the upper chest. 

• CURRENT FLOW: A wading pant with a secure waist system does not have an excess loose-fitting fabric around the bust that could "catch a flow of current", like a chest wader would have. It is important for the edges of all waders to cinch closely to the body to help prevent this occurrence.
• Miss Mayfly Wading Pants have an auto-adjusting buckle system on the back of the wader. The buckles will automatically release some belt fabric to allow the waist the room for bending and sitting. Otherwise the secure padded waist would restrict bending movements. Although, they will not release enough that one's pant would fall down, the buckles may need a quick tug to retighten upon standing.

COMMON FEATURES

Wading pants have less features than a chest wader due to most wader features being located on the upper body. However, wading pants can be paired easily with any type of vest or fishing pack that can provide the features that pants cannot offer. Some beneficial wading pant features are: Comfort and non-slip cinch waist or belt systems.

• Boot guards that prevent rocks and debris from entering waders that require separate boots.

• High waist designs that increase the height at which water can enter the wader.

• Water-resistant and/or non-water resistant pocket(s).

MISS MAYFLY FEATURES

• Chameleon Color Technology
• Durable Flex-ProForm Fabric
• Superior Breathability
• Smooth Comfort Membrane
• ReelFit Extended Size System
• 4mm Self-adjusting Neoprene Booties
• Padded High Waist Protection
• Automatic Release Back Belt System
• 1 Water Resistant Zippered Pocket
• Lower Leg Vented Double Layer
• Gravel Guards
• 2 D-Loops for Attachments (on-updated models only)

Foot Options

NEOPRENE BOOTIES

In this foot option, the foot is a waterproof bootie that fits like a loose sock. It is constructed out of neoprene and permanently adhered to the wader body. Neoprene bootie fabrics can range in thickness from 2ml to 5ml. A special boot that is made for wading must be worn on top of the bootie. Because of the neoprene thickness, wading boots are made with a larger cavity space to fit the bootie.

• Miss Mayfly Waders have a neoprene bootie that is 4mm thick and high density to prevent compression and deterioration.
• Miss Mayfly booties are so well designed in shape and tapering, that they are adjustable up to 1" in length, allowing us to fit an extended range of foot sizes more comfortably than any other brand on the market. Our booties are THE BEST!

PRO'S & CONS

• Pro: The neoprene bootie and boot combination allows the user to choose a better fit and different tread options, providing superior comfort, stability and traction.

• Pro: Because the bootie is made of a soft material, the bootie will compress to form to the foot as the user enters the water, reducing the air trapped in the boot and likewise, reducing the risk of foot-float.

• Pro: The better the fit of the boot, the more stability the user will experience in the water. For more information about wading boot fit, read our blog post An Angler's Guide to Properly Fitting Wading Boots.

• Con: A good pair of neoprene footed waders can be expensive along with the added cost in purchase wading boots separately.

 

BOOT FOOT WADERS

This foot option comes with an attached boot so that you do not need to wear a separate boot. The boot is usually made out of rubber.

• Pro: Boot foot waders are commonly enjoyed because they are quick & easy to put on and are usually a less expensive option compared to purchasing separate neoprene-footed waders and wading boots.

• Con: The boot foot fit is less accurate and commonly lacks in support and stability.

• Con: A boot foot does not compress well under water and can trap excess air in the free space that is not consumed by the foot, which can cause your feet to float up in the event of a fall, making it harder to gain your footing. Likewise, the boot is much heavier if it fills with water and can make it difficult to exit the water.

• Con: The less accurate fit and limited tread options, can reduce your foot and ankle stability and thus can decrease your traction and balance.

Fabric Types

BREATHABLE WADER FABRIC
Breathable wader fabrics are commonly made from nylon or polyester fabric weaves, with polyester being the most breathable. Ultimately, an effective breathable waterproof fabric is made up of multiple fabric layers which are adhered together. 

• Pro: The layers work together to wick moisture away from the skin to provide a more comfortable feel than what is experienced in non-breathable fabrics.

• Pro: The fabric is made waterproof via the application of an outer coating (DWR) which provides a barrier to water penetration, allowing the user to enjoy the comfort benefit of a pliable and soft fabric.

• Pro: The fabric may be considered a light, medium or heavy weight fabric which is determined by the denier or density of the fabric fibers.

• Pro: Breathable fabrics provide less insulation than neoprene fabrics but can be worn with appropriate layers that meet temperature and weather needs, making them a good option for all-weather wading. 

It is important to note that the breathable function can only occur when the users under-layers are also moisture wicking. This way all the layers from your skin and beyond are moving moisture away and through the wader. If a user were wearing cotton, the cotton would hold moisture against the skin and impede the breathability.

NEOPRENE WADER FABRIC
Neoprene waders are made from a coated rubber material that varies in thickness commonly ranging from 3mm to 5mm. The thicker the fabric, the more insulation the fabric will provide.

• Pro: Although neoprene is not a very technical fabric, the rubber material is filled with tiny nitrogen bubbles that increase insulation and hence keep you much warmer than breathable fabrics.

• Con: Neoprene doesn't have any moisture wicking capabilities which make them unsuitable for warmer temperatures. Even on cold days, you may find yourself damp from perspiration as the fabric has no way to move or evaporate body moisture.

• Con: Neoprene waders are often heavy, stiff and constricting, making them the least comfortable and lowest performing option- unless warmth is your only priority. 

Price Range

After considering the options for water depths, comfort, and performance that each style provides- many times the final deciding factor is the... price range.

It is true that you get what you pay for. Economy waders typically have a lower shelf life with basic features, limited warranty and require replacement more often. Typically a higher priced wader will offer more features and have a longer shelf life.

At Miss Mayfly®, our mission is to provide gear solutions that enable more anglers to comfortably enjoy the outdoors. Miss Mayfly® offers premium technology in fabrics, fit, performance, durability and features, at a lower price range comparatively to other brands.